St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-04-03

WHO BILLY KISSANE rs
He Is Believed to Be William z. Rogers,
Rich Land Owner of
California.
Counsellor Hart Managed His Case at
New York in tie Most Bungling
Manner,
Unless He Was Acting Against In.
stead of for the Noted
CRIMINAL.
Incidents in a Wild and Adventurous
Career--A Modern Jack
Shepard.

Incidents In Wild and Adventurous
Career--A Modern Jack
Shepard.
SAN FRANCISCO, April 2.-The Cali
fornia Democrat (Gerlnan) to-day says:
We are informed that the much-spoken-of
and much-wanted William Kissane is the
rich land owner, William K. Rogers. OF
Sonora county, California.
NEW YORK DEVELOPMENTS.
New YORK, April 2.-The Tribune will
tomorrow have long article in regard to
the now famous Billy Kissane. 1t begins
by saying that Recorder Smyth did not re-
ceive to-day the written proof of authority
which he had asked j. B. Hart, who de-
clared himself the counsel for Kissane, to
produce as evidence that he was
follows carefully -wOrded statement which
is attributed to IAN official who is ac-
quainted with every step which has been
taken." 1t points out that the indictment
which Hart sought to have nolle prosecuted
was practically outlawed; that at no time
did he ever stand in any danger of proSecu-
ton under it, as he has been pardoned for
an otfense committed at the same time; that
aside from sentimental desire TO have
the matter settled there was no reason why
he should have done anything about it: that
the most natural thing if he had consulted
good lawyer would have been to commu-
nicate with good lawyer here and have
had these things done quietly, instead of
stirring up the matter as has been done.
And so the article proceeds at considerable
length, leaving much to be read
between the lines. At one point
it permits the inference that Hart, instead
of being Kissane's attorney appears rather
as aiding his enemies by stirring up the
matter. At another point referring to the
AMOUNT OF FEELING
which he displayed, the tears springing to
his eyes at times, il leaves the inference to
be drawn that his relation to the case is
closer than that of an attorney; such
for instance, as relative under an
assumed name. 1t asserts that Mr.. Hart
has made several visits to the city i'll regard
to the matter. the first nearly year ago.
The article continues: The news was re-
ceived in this city early in the afternoon
that Kissane's present name had
been revealed in San Francisco and
that the whole history of his career
had been simultaneously told. A Tribune
reporter called upon George Williams,
bank. and stated this report to him. Mr..
Williams thought moment and then said
that the Chemical bank had from the out
set declined to make Kissane's assumed
name known, leaving the Identification tO
come from another source, should it come al
all. ~ ct the name has now been given out, y
said Mr.. Williams. adding: ''Just wait mo-
| ment." He left his private Office for two OF
| three minutes nd.afte rconsultatlon returned
| with telegraph message covering tour OF
| five telegraph blanks. and said: II have
| received this telegram from Gen. Darr. and
| | will read you a line of it." Mr.. Williams
ran his eye over the telegram and then read
aloud Il have revealed Kissane's iden-
! tity." Then Mr.. Williams said:
| You will have to wait until the name is tel
egraphed from San Francisco and gst your
| informationin that way. am
SORRY FOR KIsSANE's FAMILY
that this matter should come out, but from
all can see it is all the fault of his lawyer J
B. Hart, who came here to have the indict-
| ment quashed. Hart did not get quietly
what he wanted at the district attorneys Office
and so he appeared in open court and at
tracted public attention to the whole matter.
Not content with that he began abusing Gen.
Darr, who had been nearly ruined by kis-
sane's rascalities. and the result is that Gen.
Darr has revealed the mans identity. Harris
handling Of the matter is the worst series
of laundering l ever heard of. The bank
did not know that he was here or that the
matter was going on until Hart appeared in
open court. He has not been near US as yet.
We may naturally expect him.
Ibid you know before that kiSSane was
living in or near San Francisco under an as
sumed name?'' Mr.. Williams was asked.
.Yes,'' said he, 1--WE knew of it a year
ago.
NJ U;ll;o,ne xuoc ooI-ad ohont that r,ha co
of the matter which presents KiSsane as a
repentant criminal who had long
been leading good life.
THAT is not So, he said, ''KisSane is bad
| through and through. He is wonderfully
bright man, and equally bad. He has been
leading bad life since he left here. So far
from being repentent, the last time heard
of him he was ON spree. He not Only
NEARLY RUI NED GEN. DARR,
| but after he became prosperous and Darr
recognized him he refused to make good the
sums for the loss of which he was RESPONSE
| ble He himself is deserving OF no syInpa-
thy. am sorry for his family, however"
| AS to the statement that he had commit
| ted forgery on the American Exchange and
the Continental banks, Mr.. Williams said
| that the paper merely passed through these
banks, the loss falling on the Chemical
bank While i'll Sing Sing Kissane offered
to make full confession Of the Martha
| Washington steamboat conspiracy. He was
liberated and made full confession of the
conspiracy, the buring of the boat and the
efforts to secure the insurance. The con-
fession occupied about one hundred pages
of fooIscap. His gang was one of the most
| complete organizations ever known in this
| country. He violated his promise
| to the insurance companies and
| fled to Nicaragua, where. under an
assumed name it was reported that he had
| been shot. His career in California under
another assumed name is well known. A
gray bearded sailor. who has seen much adj
venture in South America, told reporter
Yesterday about Kissanes
CAREER IN NICARAGUA.
.In the summer of 1856 was one of Will
lam Walkers army of filibusters in Near
aqua and was stationed AT Granada. a man
who gave his name as William X. Rogers
came down on u steamer from New York and
ioined Walkers little army. He was made
assistant quartermaSter or assistant commits
sary forget which, but he didn't occupy the
comparatively humble position long. Hewas as
smart as steel trap and was well educated
He had not been lorg in the army before he
told Walker that he was William Kissane, the
noted forger. The filibuster didn't turn
from him on that account; on the contrary,
he was glad to have such bright, energetic,
pushing man as Kissene about him.
II soon became known to a dozen
or more of us that Rogers was Kis-
| sane, the forger, but his identity was not gen.
| erally known throughout the army. In the
| fall of 1856 Walker assumed the governorship
| of Nicaragua and